Tameer Bank upgrades to IRIS to support the aggressive growth of its branchless banking service, easypaisa

Tameer Microfinance Bank (TMFB), one of the largest and most innovative micro-finance institutions in Pakistan, migrates to IRIS. Tameer Bank is the first bank in Pakistan to upgrade from Phoenix to IRIS, the next generation switch and alternate delivery channel manager. Since inception, the bank has focused on its mission to promote branchless banking in the country. TMFB is a pioneering micro-finance institution to use alternative technology-based channels to reach out to the unbanked population of the country and provide them cost-effective access to the banking service. The bank has achieved several successes in the past; launch of Inter Bank Funds Transfer (IBFT) over POS and easypaisa Utility Bill Payment Service are just a few.

Tameer Bank wanted a consolidated platform and a scalable design that would enable the bank to launch innovative services to the market in a short span of time. IRIS framework has the strength to integrate various complex systems through its simple, modular, consistent, configurable and easy to use interface. IRIS intuitive user interface and role-based management gives more control to launch latest services in a short span, with minimum dependency on the vendor.

Tameer Bank required a robust solution. As of June 2010, number of transactions processed by IRIS is 2 million per month while the volume of transactions is worth Rs. 7 billion. The scalable design of IRIS promises support to the banks escalating transaction volumes that are building from the success of easypaisa. Throughput of such a large volume is a testimony of IRIS strength and its robust database; which caters the mass market of 180 million Pakistanis.

IRIS, a true middleware, understands the language of various front-end systems and translates it to a desirable back-end message system format. With IRIS as their hub, the bank is also expected to expand its growing Agent and POS network in the near future.

TPS team of professionals worked hand in hand with the bank experts to make the migration smooth and flawless. The migration strategy was divided in phases to manage the challenge of maintaining continuity of e-Banking services of the bank, with minimum disruption in banks services to its customers, employees or third party interfaces.

“Tameer Bank has a long relationship with TPS. We selected IRIS because of our trust and our experience of past successes with TPS.  We wanted a technology that can support easypaisa to the next level while also enable us to launch our upcoming motions in a shorter span. TPS has always proven its technology and edge and we look forward to many future initiatives together with TPS.” – Ali Abbas Sikander, Group Executive Director, Tameer Microfinance Bank